εὐλογητός

worthy of praise, blessed

Definition

The adjective εὐλογητός (eulogētos) means 'blessed' or 'worthy of praise.' In the New Testament, it is used exclusively as a title for God, signifying that He is the ultimate source of all blessing and is eternally deserving of human praise and worship. This is seen in doxologies where God the Father is praised, as in 2 Corinthians 1:3 and Ephesians 1:3. The term also appears in significant Christological contexts, such as Romans 9:5, where it is applied to Christ, affirming His divine status.

Biblical Usage

This word is used eight times in the New Testament, primarily in epistolary greetings and doxologies. It consistently functions as a reverent title for God, often opening a passage of praise. For example, it begins Paul's blessings in 2 Corinthians 1:3 and Ephesians 1:3, and Peter's in 1 Peter 1:3. It is also used in confessional statements, as when the high priest asks Jesus if he is 'the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One' (Mark 14:61), and in Zechariah's prophecy praising 'the Lord God of Israel' (Luke 1:68).

Etymology

Derived from the verb εὐλογέω (eulogeō), meaning 'to speak well of, praise, or bless.' The adjective form εὐλογητός is a verbal adjective (passive in form) built on this root, literally meaning 'one who is blessed' or 'worthy of blessing.' It is closely related to the Hebrew term בָּרוּךְ (baruk), used in Jewish liturgy to bless God, showing a conceptual link between the Greek and Hebrew traditions of divine praise.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it is reserved solely for God in the New Testament, underscoring His unique worthiness of worship. Its application to Jesus Christ in Romans 9:5 is a powerful affirmation of His divinity. Understanding that εὐλογητός is not a general term for 'blessed' but a specific title of honor for God enriches reading by highlighting the passages where it appears as moments of focused doxology and theological declaration about God's nature as the source of all blessing.

In the Jewish and early Christian cultural context, blessing God was a central act of worship. The term εὐλογητός would have resonated with the Hebrew 'baruk,' used in prayers and blessings to acknowledge God as the ultimate benefactor. Its exclusive application to God in the New Testament distinguishes the Christian view from the Greco-Roman world, where many gods and even humans might be called 'blessed,' reinforcing monotheistic worship and the unique blessedness of the God of Israel and Father of Jesus Christ.

εὐλογέω (eulogeō, G2127) — the verb meaning 'to bless' or 'praise,' an action directed toward God or others. μακάριος (makarios, G3107) — means 'blessed' or 'happy,' often describing a state of human felicity from God's favor, not a title for God Himself.

Word Details

Scripture References